CVE-2025-58841
📋 TL;DR
This vulnerability allows authenticated users with lower privileges to escalate their permissions within the Media Author WordPress plugin. It affects all WordPress sites running Media Author plugin versions up to 1.0.4. The flaw enables unauthorized access to administrative functions.
💻 Affected Systems
- WordPress Media Author plugin
⚠️ Manual Verification Required
This CVE does not have specific version information in our database, so automatic vulnerability detection cannot determine if your system is affected.
Why? The CVE database entry doesn't specify which versions are vulnerable (no version ranges provided by the vendor/NVD).
🔒 Custom verification scripts are available for registered users. Sign up free to download automated test scripts.
- Review the CVE details at NVD
- Check vendor security advisories for your specific version
- Test if the vulnerability is exploitable in your environment
- Consider updating to the latest version as a precaution
⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
An attacker with subscriber-level access could gain full administrative control over the WordPress site, allowing content manipulation, plugin/theme installation, user management, and potential site takeover.
Likely Case
Authenticated users (like contributors or authors) could elevate their privileges to edit other users' content, modify plugin settings, or access restricted administrative areas.
If Mitigated
With proper access controls and least privilege principles, impact is limited to users who already have some level of authenticated access to the WordPress site.
🎯 Exploit Status
Exploitation requires authenticated access to WordPress. The vulnerability involves broken access control mechanisms within the plugin's permission checks.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: 1.0.5 or later
Restart Required: No
Instructions:
1. Log into WordPress admin panel. 2. Navigate to Plugins → Installed Plugins. 3. Find 'Media Author' plugin. 4. Click 'Update Now' if update is available. 5. Alternatively, download version 1.0.5+ from WordPress repository and manually update.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Disable Media Author Plugin
WordPressTemporarily deactivate the vulnerable plugin until patched version is available
wp plugin deactivate media-author
Restrict User Registration
WordPressDisable new user registration to limit potential attack surface
Settings → General → Membership: Uncheck 'Anyone can register'
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Implement strict role-based access control and audit user permissions regularly
- Monitor WordPress audit logs for unusual privilege escalation attempts
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check WordPress admin → Plugins → Media Author → Version. If version is 1.0.4 or earlier, you are vulnerable.Check Version:
wp plugin get media-author --field=versionVerify Fix Applied:
After updating, verify Media Author plugin shows version 1.0.5 or higher in WordPress plugins list.📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- WordPress audit logs showing users accessing admin functions beyond their role permissions
- User role changes in WordPress database
Network Indicators:
- HTTP requests to Media Author admin endpoints from non-admin users
SIEM Query:
source="wordpress" (event="user_capabilities_changed" OR event="admin_page_access") user_role!="administrator"